ALA Council II - Anaheim
ALA Council II-Anaheim
2. Powell’s Books, Inc. v Hardy Myers, challenges a new Oregon law that criminalizes the dissemination of sexually explicit material to anyone under the age of 13 or the dissemination to anyone under the age of 18 of any material with the intent to sexually arouse the recipient or the provider. 3. Issues surrounding Valerie Plame.
Whereas, the Library of Congress is the premier research library in the United States and in the global library community, and
Whereas, the number of cataloging specialists at the Library of Congress has substantially decreased over the past five years, and
Whereas, the Library of Congress takes a leadership role in cataloging standard-setting, development, and maintenance, and
Whereas, the United States, including every type of library, library users from students to researchers to the general public, and to other users of metadata such as commercial enterprises like Google and Amazon, derives substantial economic benefit from intensive specialization of the professional catalogers a the Library of Congress, and
Whereas, the Library of Congress is a federal agency that operates in a political environment: now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the American Library Association urges the Library of Congress to devote more resources to the training of professional bibliographic access librarians, both those employed at the Library of Congress and in other American libraries, and be it further
Resolved, that the American Library Association (ALA) Executive Director instruct the Washington Office to advocate and petition for increased federal funding to support the work of bibliographic control at the Library of Congress by filling and expanding the number of bibliographic access positions, and be it further
Resolved, that the ALA Executive Director instruct the Washington Office to communicate this message in discussions with members of Congress and others.
Whereas, ALA’s commitment to diversity includes Combating Prejudice, Stereotyping, and Discrimination 60.3, and Recruitment and Retention of Diverse Personnel 60.6, and
Whereas, library workers are not federally protected from employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, and, in fact, continue to experience employment discrimination, and
Whereas, for many years, there has been proposed legislation in Congress to end this discrimination and declare that fairness is a fundamental American principle, and that it is unfair to fire or refuse to hire people based on identity, rather than job performance or qualifications, and
Whereas, the original Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), H.R. 2015, was drafted to remedy these lacks of federal employment protection, and
Whereas, H.R. 3685, the version of ENDA passed by the House on November 7, 2007, does not protect library workers from employment discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the American Library Association (ALA) calls for the reinstatement in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) of protections for transgender persons from employment discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression, and be it further
Resolved, ALA calls for passage of H.R. 2015 or other inclusive version of ENDA by both Houses of Congress.
Whereas ALA and its divisions, round tables, and other various units purchase all kinds of products for distribution to membership, such as tee shirts, conference bags, etc.; and
Whereas a large proportion of those available products are produced in sweatshop conditions; now, therefore
We initially convened as the ALA-APA Council to vote on the FY 2009 Budgetary Ceiling due to lack of information available in a timely manner yesterday. We voted to approve the ceiling.
We then re-convened as ALA Council II.
The Policy Monitoring Committee made a number of changes to unify language in the policies.
These all passed. I voted for all of them.
We voted to restructure corporate membership. I voted for it and it passed.
We voted on a budgetary ceiling of $67,984,278 for FY 2009. I voted for this and it passed.
We received a report from the Freedom to Read Foundation. There are three law suits in which the FRF is involved. 1. Indiana law requiring anyone selling “harmful to minors” materials as defined by Indiana statute to register with the state as an “adult business.”
2. Powell’s Books, Inc. v Hardy Myers, challenges a new Oregon law that criminalizes the dissemination of sexually explicit material to anyone under the age of 13 or the dissemination to anyone under the age of 18 of any material with the intent to sexually arouse the recipient or the provider. 3. Issues surrounding Valerie Plame.
A resolution regarding Federal Depository Library programs was referred to the Committee on Legislation for further review. I voted for this and it passed.
We discussed the following resolution:
Resolution on Support for Funding for Cataloging and Bibliographic Control at the Library of Congress
Whereas, the Library of Congress is the “de facto” national library and is perceived as such by the American library community and the international library community, and
Whereas, the Library of Congress is the premier research library in the United States and in the global library community, and
Whereas, the number of cataloging specialists at the Library of Congress has substantially decreased over the past five years, and
Whereas, the Library of Congress takes a leadership role in cataloging standard-setting, development, and maintenance, and
Whereas, the United States, including every type of library, library users from students to researchers to the general public, and to other users of metadata such as commercial enterprises like Google and Amazon, derives substantial economic benefit from intensive specialization of the professional catalogers a the Library of Congress, and
Whereas, the Library of Congress is a federal agency that operates in a political environment: now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the American Library Association urges the Library of Congress to devote more resources to the training of professional bibliographic access librarians, both those employed at the Library of Congress and in other American libraries, and be it further
Resolved, that the American Library Association (ALA) Executive Director instruct the Washington Office to advocate and petition for increased federal funding to support the work of bibliographic control at the Library of Congress by filling and expanding the number of bibliographic access positions, and be it further
Resolved, that the ALA Executive Director instruct the Washington Office to communicate this message in discussions with members of Congress and others.
I voted in favor of this resolution. It passed.
We discussed the following resolution:
Resolution Supporting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)
Whereas, the American Library Association (ALA) supports Equal Employment Opportunity 54.3, Inclusiveness and Mutual Respect 54.7, and Gay Rights 54.16, and
Whereas, ALA’s commitment to diversity includes Combating Prejudice, Stereotyping, and Discrimination 60.3, and Recruitment and Retention of Diverse Personnel 60.6, and
Whereas, library workers are not federally protected from employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, and, in fact, continue to experience employment discrimination, and
Whereas, for many years, there has been proposed legislation in Congress to end this discrimination and declare that fairness is a fundamental American principle, and that it is unfair to fire or refuse to hire people based on identity, rather than job performance or qualifications, and
Whereas, the original Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), H.R. 2015, was drafted to remedy these lacks of federal employment protection, and
Whereas, H.R. 3685, the version of ENDA passed by the House on November 7, 2007, does not protect library workers from employment discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the American Library Association (ALA) calls for the reinstatement in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) of protections for transgender persons from employment discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression, and be it further
Resolved, ALA calls for passage of H.R. 2015 or other inclusive version of ENDA by both Houses of Congress.
I voted for this resolution and it passed.
We discussed the following resolution:
Resolution Concerning ALA Policy Opposing Sweatshop Labor
Whereas, the American Library Association (ALA) has broad social responsibilities (Policy 1.1); and
Whereas ALA and its divisions, round tables, and other various units purchase all kinds of products for distribution to membership, such as tee shirts, conference bags, etc.; and
Whereas a large proportion of those available products are produced in sweatshop conditions; now, therefore
Be it resolved that
- the American Library Association and its divisions, round tables, and all other units should purchase all products for distribution to membership from sweatshop free producers; and
- this resolution and information about how to comply with it shall be communicated to all ALA divisions, round tables, all other units, and ALA staff.
It was reported that ALA leadership is in the process of compiling a comprehensive “green/socially responsible, etc.” plan for ALA to be presented at a later conference.
I voted for this resolution and it passed.
Attendance:
21,817 which is smaller than DC but greater than New Orleans.
We adjourned.